This listing is for the standard edition Blu-ray release. The limited edition slipcover (designed by Richard Hilliard) was limited to 1,000 units and is sold out. The two versions are identical, aside from the slipcover.
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Ever since she was discovered naked and near-dead decades ago, Mongia has been institutionalized, with a tendency to bite her nurses. Grisly, frightening, and stuffed with howling thrills, the new Tunisian horror film DACHRA won over both Frightfest and the Venice Film Festival and is finally making its stateside debut. Equal parts Midsommar and The Blair Witch Project, DACHRA begins with a simple classroom assignment and spins through double plot twists into high-tension cannibal sorcery. Sent off with a documentary video assignment, three journalism students decide to interview Mongia, seeking new clues about the cold case. Intrigued and perturbed by the deranged woman’s story, the trio take their camera to the scene of the crime deep in the woods, led by the headstrong young investigator Yassmine (scream queen par excellence Yassmine Dimassi). Soon they are welcomed to a secluded, hushed village where goats have free rein and raw meat hangs drying in the wind. Captured with a minimalist color palette in Hatem Nechi’s eerie and atmospheric compositions and uncanny long takes, this foggy, isolated hamlet is the creepiest location in recent horror cinema. Daring depths of barbarity—and some seriously scary children—are around every corner. With superlative craft, first-time director Abdelhamid Bouchnak weaves together North African folklore and the tried-and-true B-movie magic that made his debut a runaway hit in his home country. DACHRA maintains a high level of suspense and sophistication with its carefully calibrated narrative, strong performances, and its genre-expanding ethereal dread.
directed by: Abdelhamid Bouchnak
starring: Yassmine Dimassi, Hela Ayed, Aziz Jebali, Bilel Slatnia, Bahri Rahali
2018 / 114 min / 2.35:1 / Arabic DTS-HD MA 5.1
Additional info:
Dachra | Dekanalog US Trailer from Dekanalog on Vimeo.
Overall rating: 4.4666667 / 5 from 15 reviews.
Review topics: ["film","slipcover"].
"I thought this movie would be great, but it was way too slow and the ending felt kind of random. Honestly, I didn’t enjoy it. It does maintain a certain atmosphere, but something felt missing. Even the characters don’t really get fully developed. It’s okay for a one-time watch, but I wouldn’t revisit it."
"I don´t get the comparison to Blair Witch except that it´s a group of three students. Where Glair Witch was a bit of a sleeping pill with a camera operating on it´s own this had lots of atmosphere and great performances from the actors. Someone used the camera, it wasn´t operating on it´s own. Creepy, gory and scary. Highly recommended"
"Great transfer, recommended"
"Sure, there are some tropes present, but this film makes up for it plenty in atmosphere. All the actors were very good and I can't believe this only cost 80k to make. Lots of nasty gore and some twists I didn't see coming. It's also got a pretty memorably creepy kid and impressive cinematography"
"Interesting premise and original elements make for an entertaining viewing"
"One of my purchases during the recent VS Halfway to Black Friday sale. It is a Tunisian horror film from 2018 and is an absolutely brilliant film, very atmospheric and creepy, with folk horror type elements, and a great ending. One of the best modern horror films I have seen. Although I was only able to purchase the standard edition (the limited edition slipcover run having long since sold out), I was lucky enough to find the slipcover alone at a very reasonable price on a certain well-known online auction/purchase site. There are under 200 copies of the standard edition left in stock now - buy it while it’s still available. Comes with an excellent, very informative booklet. Please note it is a Region A release, so if you’re outside the U.S./Canada you need a multiregion player to be able to view the disc."
"Great setting and atmosphere.. need a rewatch for liking it more"
"The first half-hour or so of this film seems like it’s just people arguing, but there is a lot of foreshadowing of what’s on the way. It does crawl a bit all throughout, diminishing the suspense some, though by the time it wraps up it’s surprise ending left me stunned. This is great supernatural folk horror, first rate all ways round. The cinematography is wonderful, as is this transfer. The booklet that comes in the package is informative with several photos. The subtitles are easy-to-read and it’s fun how they switch back-and-forth between French and Arabic."
"Great little film, highly recommend."
""Dachra" is a Tunisian horror film directed by Abdelhamid Bouchnak, released in 2018. The movie follows three journalism students who set out to investigate a centuries-old mystery in a remote village in the Tunisian countryside, only to find themselves trapped in a nightmare of occult rituals and cannibalism. The film's atmosphere is tense and eerie, and the cinematography is excellent, with the haunting and desolate landscapes of the Tunisian countryside serving as a perfect backdrop for the story. The acting by the lead cast is solid, especially Yasmine Dimassi, who plays the main character Yasmin, a determined and resourceful young woman who becomes the de facto leader of the group. One of the film's strengths is its ability to create a sense of unease and suspense, without relying on jump scares or excessive gore. Instead, the horror is generated through the slow, deliberate pacing of the story and the gradual unraveling of the mystery at the heart of the plot. However, the film is not without its flaws. Some of the supporting characters feel underdeveloped and the dialogue, at times, feels stilted and unnatural. The ending is also somewhat ambiguous, leaving many questions unanswered and leaving the viewer somewhat unsatisfied. Overall, "Dachra" is an impressive debut feature for Bouchnak, and a unique addition to the horror genre. Its blend of folklore and modern horror elements makes for a captivating and chilling viewing experience, though its imperfections may make it a polarizing film for some viewers. Another great release from Vinegar Syndrome"
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